03 | action

[asideglance.livejournal.com]

[Those of you who know Japan or have seen him around Garden might have noticed how seriously he takes... everything. Class, training, cleaning, people running in the halls... So it's only natural to see him busy throughout the day!

A) You might spot him training with his katana. He seems quite skilled, even if he stops every so often to huff dramatically and mumble to himself about his 'old age.' How weird when he looks around 18...

B) Alternatively, he likes to spend whatever free time he has in the Quad. You can probably spot him with a notebook, watching some others occasionally and then writing-- no, sketching? Something. Wait, that looks inappropriate, doesn't it?! But if you walk close, he'll flip to the next page immediately and start drawing a rabbit. ...Yes, this happens no matter how many times you pass by. How suspicious.

C) Lastly, that same Japan from your classes that does all of his homework, answers questions correctly, stays quiet in class... Is on the disciplinary committee and will stop you in the hallway if you're running or anything... Well it sure sounds like his bag is meowing. Loudly. As he nervously looks around. INVESTIGATE?]

Comments

[fierybluebird]

Good deeds? [He's more confused than ever. He's a pirate after all. What kind of good deeds or fighting for justice does he do? ALTHOUGH HE WANTS TO HEAR ALL OF THE STORIES. All of them. He always wants to know more about phoenixes, but even here in a world where they aren't considered myths and unreality, no one knows much.]

I have... seen the dawn of at least two Eras in my world... [Rubs the back of his neck, sort of embarrassed. Being that old is weird. Being told you might be related to the cause is weirder when Marco always thought he had a sidelong view of it.] Why would China tell you it? Did he have a stake in it or something?

[asideglance.livejournal.com]

...China-san told me many tales. If it were his choice, he would have it called the Chinese Phoenix. Ahh, but he views it as a very feminine symbol... [Trying to get China on Marco's bad side yes yes he is] Representing only his empress, while for me, it is the Imperial household.

In any case, it is said to be a peaceful creature that arrives in times of good fortune, or, ah, a new era. Such as the birth of a virtuous ruler. Things of that nature.

[fierybluebird]

[HE'S SUCCEEDING.] Chinese Phoenix? [Annoyed. He's Whitebeard's and Whitebeard's only.] I am not feminine... [Not that he has a problem with it, per se. He likes it on Grell and Izou, he's just more prone to not shaving often enough and being more "masculine" by nature.]

Virtuous ruler, huh? Sounds nice though... [Distant look.]

[asideglance.livejournal.com]

Hmm, Marco-san has quite the thoughtful look right now.

[fierybluebird]

Ah... do I?

I was just thinking of my Pops and the Pirate King... They were rivals, but obviously I always sided with my Pops, eh? And I still say he was the strongest man that ever lived... but the end of the Age of Sea, which lasted well over a thousand years was started by the Pirate King's execution. He told all the world that his treasure was waiting for them if they found it; One Piece, so millions of pirates flooded the oceans.

The next Era.... [Blinks. Wow misty-eyed still talking about this? Some wounds never die... so he shivers slightly and shakes it off into deadpan.] Began with the fall of Portgas D. Ace -- who I thought for sure would be the Next King of the Pirates. As he was dying, he insisted the Era, the next one after Age of Pirates, would be called Whitebeard's Era. And then Pops fell too.

All three were pirates, so I'm not sure virtuous fits in there. Justice? Justice is what killed them. It is... strange to think on.

[asideglance.livejournal.com]

[HE SPOTS THAT... But he just frowns, looking a little surprised.]

Ah... I hope I did not pry too much. But it is rather interesting to consider...

[fierybluebird]

It's fine. I'm just not sure what context to put it in, if that makes sense.

[asideglance.livejournal.com]

I'm not certain if I understand completely, but I believe I can to a point.

[fierybluebird]

It's like... here there are supposedly phoenixes but I haven't met anyone who's really seen one and they only seem to use the feathers for reviving. Which... mine can't even do.

And sometimes I wonder if I'm really a phoenix at all or just a mock-up of one. I used to think that of being human. That I wasn't human, just a disguise I wore. [Shrugs.] I suppose it all sounds very strange.

[asideglance.livejournal.com]

[He covers his mouth with a hand]

...No, I believe I can understand that sort of thing quite well. [Human or country... Empire or... Well. There were many questions like this, weren't there?]

[fierybluebird]

Ah thank you.

So I'm the only phoenix you've met then?

[asideglance.livejournal.com]

You certainly are. It was startling... Please do not tease me in such a way in the future. [with the. being a phoenix thing.]

My old heart cannot take this sort of treatment very often.

[fierybluebird]

Eh? What's wrong with this?

[Just... turns into a phoenix and sits on Japan's shoulders with his head on Japan's head.]

[asideglance.livejournal.com]

Eh?!--...

[...]

While I was speaking of not letting me know that you were human, this is still a bit startling. Hah...

[fierybluebird]

[Chirps and attempts to tell him he's more phoenix than human. Or so he thinks.]

[asideglance.livejournal.com]

...Perhaps you could return to normal before attempting speech.

[fierybluebird]

[Sighs and hops off, switches back, and folds his arms behind his neck.]

Who's to say I'm actually human and not phoenix, eh?

[asideglance.livejournal.com]

...

It seems to me that you are both. Ah, connecting them was the startling part.

[fierybluebird]

Aye. [Leans an arm on Japan's head. Just because.] Though I suppose it was unfair of me. You did tell me early on that you're a country, but I'm not used to explaining my species to people. Generally a bad idea and all.

[asideglance.livejournal.com]

[gkjdfsgjf flustered at that leaning]

... A bad idea? Is it?

[fierybluebird]

Mm. Back home I have a bounty large enough that most people know about it already, but that doesn't mean I just let anyone see it. Just in case, you know? And before I was famous like that, devil fruit users aren't usually regarded in the nicest of views. Monster and freak being nicer terms used really.

Here, it's not as tricky because I'm male, and apparently all sorceresses are female -- and as I said, there are phoenixes, but apparently it still sets some people off that I wouldn't completely hide it as much as possible.

[asideglance.livejournal.com]

Uwah... [No Japan don't find it cool that he has a bounty...] I understand. That must be a lot to consider.

[fierybluebird]

[Shrugs.] It doesn't really faze me, but that is why I don't go around telling people.

Besides. [EVIL PIRATE GRIN.] You should see people's faces when they first find out. [Trololol.]

[asideglance.livejournal.com]

...That sort of expression seems dangerous.

[fierybluebird]

Dangerous? [Cools it down... a little.]